Generic Nonpowered character

[Achan hiArusa]

I was thinking of using 4e for games that weren't fantasy and decided on this base for a character from such a game. It can also be used for generic NPCs like experts, artistocrats, warriors, and commoners who aren't supposed to be powered.

Role: None
Power Source: None. They do not have any powers.
Key Abilities: Any
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple melee, simple ranged; then choose either military melee or military ranged
Armor Proficiencies: Cloth, leather, hide, chainmail; light shield
Implements: None
Bonus to Defense: Gain three +1 bonuses to defense at 1st level, place them anywhere you want, but you can only put up to +2 on a single defense (but not +3).
Hit Points Gained at 1st Level: 15 + Constitution Score
Hit Points per Level Gained: 6
Healing Surges per Day: 10 + Constitution Modifier
Trained Skills: Choose any 6 trained skills, you are not restricted in your choice.
Build Options: None
Class Features: Gain Bonus feats every odd level.

 

[fissionessence]

Is this meant for player characters?

4E is built around powers, and without them, combat is much less interesting than even 3.5. I guess this looks like it could represent a city guard PC, but why not just make the city guard an NPC with a monster stat block?

I guess I'm just trying to figure out what you're using this for, and why?

~

 

[Achan hiArusa]

Because I like to customize my NPCs and not just "steal a stat block." Also if I wanted to run a game without powers, this would be a way to go. Granted I would probably get better results out of using WoD or 3e, but I'm a system wonk and I like to play around with things.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Because I like to customize my NPCs and not just "steal a stat block." Also if I wanted to run a game without powers, this would be a way to go. Granted I would probably get better results out of using WoD or 3e, but I'm a system wonk and I like to play around with things.

I guess you also like to put a lot of time into building your NPCs, because that is going to be a lot of feats after the first few levels.
I suppose it would be okay for building really dull warriors, warrior-trained aristocrats, and "invincible shopkeep" experts. Seems like a lot of work for things whose stats won't matter, but that's your choice, and more power to you.

Honestly, if I was going to play a non-fantasy game, I wouldn't think of using the 4e rules in any form. They're too restrictively D&D, to my view.

 

[Achan hiArusa]

Actually, I do. I enjoy the so called "soul-crushing" number crunching of 3e. I even have modified spreadsheets that help me create monsters and NPCs, but those were written by my ex-girlfriend, not me. And if you have a game where NPCs don't matter then its not really an RPG. Sometimes you need to put away the dice, the minis, and the battlegrid and really play.

 

[small pumpkin man]

Actually, I do. I enjoy the so called "soul-crushing" number crunching of 3e. I even have modified spreadsheets that help me create monsters and NPCs, but those were written by my ex-girlfriend, not me. And if you have a game where NPCs don't matter then its not really an RPG. Sometimes you need to put away the dice, the minis, and the battlegrid and really play.

No-one's saying that NPCs don't matter. Their motivations, character and relationships matter. Their bonuses to skills and their defences also occasionally matter. What doesn't matter is how they got those numbers, what feats they have or what class they are don't matter, these are constructs for creating balanced PCs not rules of the world.* If you enjoy writing up NPCs as PCs that's fine, if it helps you flex your imagination muscles, that's great, but such things do not, in fact, directly influence play, and are in no way a requirement for "real play".

*Unless you're playing exalted. But you're not, so, uh... yeah.

 

[ValhallaGH]

And SPM gets it right the first time. Well done, sir.

Actually, I do. I enjoy the so called "soul-crushing" number crunching of 3e. I even have modified spreadsheets that help me create monsters and NPCs, but those were written by my ex-girlfriend, not me. And if you have a game where NPCs don't matter then its not really an RPG. Sometimes you need to put away the dice, the minis, and the battlegrid and really play.

Just a couple of unrelated points:

• Whether or not the character matters, and whether or not the character's statistics matter, are two entirely different propositions.
• You seem to have gotten defensive when no reason for defensiveness was given. Determining why that happened may be a helpful exercise in self-examination.
• The quoted statement is internally inconsistent. The implication that hours of number-crunching are necessary to NPC creation, and the statement that putting away everything that requires those numbers is necessary to playing the game, are not mutually supporting points. Generally, the second point is used to negate the first. I offer this in the spirit of constructive criticism.

As I mentioned, the balance of the class seems okay. The necessity of it seems ephemeral. Do with this input what you wish.

 

[Achan hiArusa]

And SPM gets it right the first time. Well done, sir.


Just a couple of unrelated points:

• Whether or not the character matters, and whether or not the character's statistics matter, are two entirely different propositions.
• You seem to have gotten defensive when no reason for defensiveness was given. Determining why that happened may be a helpful exercise in self-examination.
• The quoted statement is internally inconsistent. The implication that hours of number-crunching are necessary to NPC creation, and the statement that putting away everything that requires those numbers is necessary to playing the game, are not mutually supporting points. Generally, the second point is used to negate the first. I offer this in the spirit of constructive criticism.

As I mentioned, the balance of the class seems okay. The necessity of it seems ephemeral. Do with this input what you wish.

Well thank you for your insightful comments based on a single post I've written. Where did you get your degree in counselling? And yes I believe in high drama, but I believe also in hard numbers. Neither of which is mutally exclusive nor should it be, the best games should have both. Maybe I am reacting against the "this isn't supposed to be hard work" ethic that has infected both this hobby and the students in the classrooms where I teach. Its the exact same attitude.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Well thank you for your insightful comments based on a single post I've written. Where did you get your degree in counselling?

Sarcastic and belittling personal attack. Check.

And yes I believe in high drama, but I believe also in hard numbers. Neither of which is mutally exclusive nor should it be, the best games should have both.

I agree. Your previous post had, however, used very bad logic. You wielded two unrelated premises and assigned them a conclusion that they do not justify. I expect more of people, so I pointed it out in the hope that you would learn from it.

Maybe I am reacting against the "this isn't supposed to be hard work" ethic that has infected both this hobby and the students in the classrooms where I teach. Its the exact same attitude.

And now you are projecting traits onto myself and a large number of other people that you haven't met. And strongly implying that these projected traits are being transferred from your real life frustrations.

I am now walking away from this discussion, since you can't seem to keep it relevant.

 

[Achan hiArusa]

Fine walk away. They are just numbers people and if I want to play with numbers, I will play with numbers. If you don't, then don't. All I've gotten are posts critical of my work. And being patronizing and then wondering why I get snippy bespeaks of problems on your side. I understand that I am troll bait. I'm sorry that I decided try to modify the one true system.